Surfivor Surf Camp in north Portugal

From now on Surfivors from the UK, USA, Canada and other countries in the world can find surfivorcamp on facebook! Furthermore have we activated for the Dutch Surfivors a hyves.nl account and for the Germans a studivz net account. Join our online community centres by searching surfivorcamp!


My summer is almost over and therefore I just wanted to let all of you know that the Surfivor Surf Camp is the coolest surf camp ever. I have found a very special second home in the north of Portugal that has a special place in my heart from now on. I have become addicted to surf in this beautiful surf spot located close to Porto and Espinho and will definitely come back the coming season, and if not, next summer.

As been said in our surfivor blog the surfivor team ‘07 is really perfect and I am glad I could have been part of it this endless summer. We have had so much fun and we have seen so many smiling faces and heard so many ‘Wait-for-me, I-will-come-back!’-promises. I could not imagine any better surf instructors than Miguel and Katrijn. They are so dedicated to their work and professional, but patient and kind as well! Chris is our driver that picks up our surfivors from the airport and train stations. Especially in the weekend he is very busy because of all the new arrivals and departs, but he seems to manage himself and do a good job, even when he had a cold! Luca is our surf lesson assistant and at night he works in the local Dacasca Bar. These two jobs are fiscally and mentally very demanding and so he is often tired but still always enthusiastic and cheerful during the surf lessons!
For Eduardo counts the same, although he has his summer job in Dacasca Bar and he substitutes the lifeguards of the local beach sometimes, during surf class he is always alert and willing to give some advice about your surf skills.
And last but not least, Zéza. I would say she is the mother of the camp. She takes care of the breakfast in the morning, cleaning in the camp, administration and is always willing to give you a hand with everything.
Although I am leaving this weekend, the rest of the surfivorcamp team will be waiting for you to provide you the greatest surf experience and holiday! Note: Surfivorcamp will be open this low season, with accommodation in the new surf house! So, what are you waiting for? Check out the website and book your trip. http://www.surfivorcamp.com/

News from Surfivor Camp

Since three weeks Surfivor camp owns a volleyball and rugby field on the camping site. During the stay of the British Whitgift school group at the camp we have been very active! Not only with surfing lesson and a contest, but with building the new sports fields as well. While the weather is still good, people can make use of it to enjoy sports.


Last weekend the local municipality arranged for the seventh time an event in Cortegaça, Fim de Semana Radical (Radical Weekend). Adventurous and radical activities were organized: there was music, paintball competitions, a balloon and Surfivor arranged free surf lessons for young locals. People were in contact with nature and sports, what made the atmosphere perfect with lots of adrenaline. In the evenings everyone could go to the local bars for some after-partying.
This week (1st - 10th of august) there is arranged a Medieval festival in a village not far from Cortegaça, Viagem Medieval in Santa Maria da Feira. There is music, stands were can be bought food and typical medieval and Portuguese souvenirs. Tonight we’re gonna check it out and I’ll report you about it next week!

Furthermore is there made an online community centre where the former surfivors and people who want to surfive can stay in contact. Everybody is gonna be able to exchange their pictures made on the camp and leave messages. People who haven’t been at Surfivor Camp yet, can get an overview of the atmosphere in the camp. It is perfect! Every year everybody says: ‘let’s stay in contact’, or ‘I’ll send you the pics’, but in reality this does not happens often. Go to http://surfivorcamp.hyves.nl a.s.a.p.!

My last announcement is that Surfivor Camp is gonna be open in the low season this year. Since the beginning of the spring season Surfivor has a surf house where surfivors can stay. We are very happy with the house: there is a cosy living room, two dormitories, a kitchen, a bathroom and a garage where the surf boards and wetsuits are stored.

Our Surf house: the living room

On our original website-blog you can read about the cheap package we are offering you this low season to stay here in the surf camp. So if you have not plans for your winter holidays yet? Check it out and book your surf trip to Surfivor Surf Camp a.s.ap.!

Aloha!

Surfivor Team

Activities in Surfivor Camp + photos

Surfivor Surf Camp and the village Cortegaça offer many activities to do, next to surfing! This weekend the waves were really flat and so surfing was not much of an adventure. But this did NOT mean that we have not been active…



After watching the beautiful sunset on Saturday evening we went out for dinner in the pizzeria, located just around the corner outside of the camping: the pizzas and deserts they serve are really the best. After dinner there was a live concert on the football field on the camping, by Slimmy, a 28-year old upcoming Portuguese rock star. Afterwards, there was a Bongo Lounge party in a bar just outside of the camping. This is a nice bar with a terrace and gives locals and tourists (surfivors) the opportunity to get together. Because it was quite windy we decided to go to an other bar, Dacasca Bar, at midnight, where it was more crowded. This a really nice (kind of) lounge bar, again, only 2 minutes walk from the camping. The ambiance that night was unbelievably good! Everyone was dancing, talking, laughing, hugging, (some even) kissing and drinking caipirinhas, one of the most popular drink of Cortegaça. Everyone was having so much fun that there did not seem to come an end to the night…

The next day was a relaxing day. The sun was still shining in the afternoon, so we could sit at the beach to get a tan. Later on we did some capoeira at the beach, which is quite difficult because of the sand.

Although the waves had been very flat, the wave forecasts state that the waves will climb up to more than 2 meters the next couple of days. Since yesterday it has been raining the whole night and a strong, cold wind came in from the south and is making the waves come up. Amazing! So off I go, putting on my wetsuit and experiencing these fierce waves… See you at Surfivor Camp!

The Party in Surfivor Camp

Every week there can be expected a BBQ in Surfivor Camp: some nice hot chicken is prepared and for the vegetarians there is also a meal. Yesterday was one of those days, but this time there was a party afterwards. After a whole day of preparations every surfivor was invited in our Camp House. The house is really nice and there belongs a big garden to it, where the party was given. Everything was taken care of: there was light, a barbecue, a fridge with drinks, etcetera. We arranged a bar where (strawberry and lime) caipirinhas were made by the Italian surf coach assistant Luca and there was made a big bowl of Sangría. As soon as the music was arranged, the party could begin!



All the surfivors came together at about 9 p.m. and so the chicken was put down on the barbecue. I was one of the persons who helped in the kitchen and when we were preparing the chicken I put too much hot chilli on the chicken, what meant that the chicken was very spicy. Luckily most people liked it, but for others it was too hot. It has become a tradition in Surfivor Camp to put banana’s and chocolate on the barbecue as dessert. It is certainly the best banana you can imagine… I won’t tell you the secret, just get here and experience it yourself!

After the barbecue it was time to try out the caipirinhas. De-li-ci-ous! Everthing was so well arranged, the problem was that everyone was tired from surfing and it was quite cold outside. So in the end we didn’t have a big exciting garden party, but rather a cosy gathering of surfivors in the living room of the camp house. With some light and music it was a successful party after all.

Afterwards there had to be cleaned so that this morning everything could be brought back to the camp. It is possible, when staying in Surfivor Camp, to stay in a tent or caravan on the camp. But if you don’t like to be so close to nature or you rather prefer some luxury, there is possibility to stay in the camp house. There are two dormitories and space for 8 persons. There is kitchen with an oven and a fridge, a big bathroom, a terrace and a garden. The house is really nice when you need time for yourself and don’t want people around you all the time. All the accommodation and courses have to be reserved in advance, so be quick and go to http://www.surfivorcamp.com/new/booking.html for more information and to book your trip!

See you here!
Team Surfivor

20 Reasons to go to Surfivor Surf Camp!!

The Surfivor Surf Camp is located in North-Portugal, only half an hour away from the city Porto. Why should you have surf lessons in our Surfivor Surf Camp?

- Because there is a relaxed atmosphere in the camp.
- Because there are endless beach breaks, empty line-ups and a fascinating wildlife.
- Because it is cheap, from 280 € / week.
- Because accommodation and breakfast is included.
- Because you don´t need to bring any surfival equipment: tents, mattresses, sleeping bags, wetsuits, etcetera are offered!
- Because the surf teachers are professionals and patient.
- Because you surf in small groups.

- Because you can also rent a board.
- Because the waves are perfect for beginners.
- Because when the waves are not so nice, you go to an other beach.
- Because the weather is sunny during summer time.
- Because you don’t necessarily need to stay in the camp, there is also a house with kitchen, bathroom, two dormitories and a living room.
- Because the staff of the Surfivor Camp rocks!!
- Because the staff speaks different languages: English, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Italian and Spanish, so there is no language barrier.
- Because local Portuguese people also speak English.
- Because there not many tourists in North Portugal.
- Because there are BBQs every week.
- Because there are organized cultural trips to Porto.
- Because the beaches are empty and so there is enough space for you to surf.
- Because the camp is open all year round!

Got interested? Take a look at our website and see what we have to offer you:
http://www.surfivorcamp.com/

The Surfivor Team